Vernon Philander has recovered from a minor car accident that has caused whiplash and will train on Thursday as he and the fully rehabilitated Rory Kleinveldt will add all-round depth to the Nashua Cape Cobras in their endeavour to lift the Champions League Twenty20-crown.

Philander, the number-1 ranked all-rounder in international test cricket, was involved in a minor car-accident, according to Justin Ontong, the Nashua Cape Cobras captain, but was not injured. He attended the net session on Wednesday, but just watched proceedings as he did not take part as a precautionary measure. Kleinveldt was 85 % fit while taking part in two domestic T20-games against the bizhub Highveld Lions after a lengthy period off the field due to a knee injury which ruled him out of selection for the South African touring squad to Sri Lanka, and subsequently, Zimbabwe. He is now 95 % fit and will be ready for the first game in India, said Ontong. Kleinveldt trained on Wednesday without any restraint. Philander, who did not participate in the triangular one-day series in Zimbabwe due to a hamstring-scare, did play in two warm-up games against the Lions. He is considered a certain starter in India. Justin Kemp, who did not play in the Franchise Challenge as part of the Global Softech Sixes tournament due to a hamstring-injury, will also be ready for the first game in India. Ontong said all three these all-rounders are pivotal as they can hit big sixes, but also play a role in taking wickets or containing batsmen. “It is great to have so many all-rounders. If you have only four specialist bowlers and three of them travel (or concede many runs per over), you might have a problem. “But if you can call on six or seven bowlers, you have options.” Paul Adams, the Cobras-coach, said you have to be able to participate in two disciplines (batting and bowling) in T20-cricket, with the third option being fielding. Ontong added that Australia is a recent example of an international team that boast the presence of many all-rounders in T20-cricket and even in One Day Internationals. The Cobras will field several players who can be termed all-rounders. Robin Peterson, Kemp, Ontong, Kleinveldt, Philander and even Dane Piedt fall in this category. Piedt has a highest first-class score of 92 and is no slouch with the bat, while both he and Peterson add variety to a bowling attack of international class.